Page 16 - RMBA Upper School Haggadah 2018

Raise the tray with the matzot and say:

,‫ ָה ַשׁ ָתּא ָה ָכא‬.‫ ָכּל ִד ְצ ִרי ֵיי ֵתי ְו ִי ְפ ַסח‬,‫ ָכּל ִד ְכ ִפין ֵיי ֵתי ְו ֵיי ֹכל‬.‫ָהא ַל ְח ָמא ַﬠ ְנ ָיא ִדי ֲא ָכלוּ ַא ְב ָה ָת ָנא ְבּ ַא ְר ָﬠא ְד ִמ ְצ ָר ִים‬
‫ ְל ָשׁ ָנה ַה ָבּ ָאה ְבּ ֵני חוֹ ִרין‬,‫ ָה ַשׁ ָתּא ַﬠ ְב ֵדי‬.‫ ְל ָשׁ ָנה ַה ָבּ ָאה ְבּ ַא ְר ָﬠא ְד ִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬.

This is the bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are
hungry come and eat. Let all who are in need, come and share the Pesach meal. This year, we
are here. Next year, in the land of Israel. This year, we are slaves. Next year, we will be free.

Ha Lachma Anya - Mrs. Elisheva Levitt
The famous ques on is asked, why does it say both “let all who are hungry come eat” and “let
all who are in need come and celebrate?” What is the significance of each of these statements
when referring to the seder experience?
Each statement has a very different connota on. The first one “Let all who are hungry come and
eat “ is the easy one. Let the people who don’t have the money or resources to have food at the
seder be invited to join your seder and be enabled to par cipate in this mitzvah and experience.
When looking at the 2nd phrase, “Let all who are in need come and celebrate Pesach,” we
immediately assume that this includes poor people because “in need” connotes those who are
missing resources. Rabbi Soloveitchik explains “Although they may ini ally seem redundant, the
two invita ons we issue in HaLakhma Anya--"Let all who are who are hungry, kol dikhfin, enter
and eat" and "Let all who are in need, kol ditzrikh, come and celebrate the Passover:---in reality
are not. Kol ditzrikh means those who are in need--but not in need of bread...one who is alone,
who has a lot of Matzah and wine but no home or family...Whoever is in need should come and
celebrate…” Rabbi Solovietchik is telling us that “in need” extends itself to so many more
people. People who may have plenty but are lonely, or people who may not know much about
observance of the seder who could come and experience it with you.
I would like to suggest an added category, those who may have special needs, who are o en not
included in special experiences but who would thrive being included in the seder experience.
We o en assume that people with special needs can’t, or have limited ability, to par cipate in
the seder experience. The truth is that they are likely to gain the most from the seder
experience. Not necessarily in the details of the Haggadah, but feeling enriched by the
inclusivity. The joy, the fun, the interac ons that can take place at the seder can be extremely
rewarding and beneficial. If you’ve not experienced an inclusive gathering you are really missing
out on a very rewarding and meaningful experience. I’d like to suggest some ideas on how to
create a more inclusive seder experience (which I suspect will help everyone enjoy the seder
more):

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